Pop corn machine



June 1929- G. H. ROSSEBO ET AL 5.390

POP CORN MACHINE Filed Sept. 26, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet A TTORNEYS.

June 4, 1929. G, RQSSEBQ ET AL 1,715,390

POP CORN MACHINE Filed Sept. 2 1924 2 Sheets-:Sheet 2 INVENTORS. Grams: bf Rossfba Hans/z WHAT/15M A TTORNEYJI Patente cl June 4, 1929.

, UNITED STATES I 1,715,390 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ROSSEBO AND HOMER WALTMAN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS TO HOLCOMB & HOKE MFG. (10., OFINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION.

ror-comr MACHINE.

Application filed. September This invention pertains to a popcorn ma chine, and particularly to the mechanism for controlling the corn hopper and dispensing at timed intervals the proper charge of corn onto the hot plate, such corn-charging intervals being timed with relation to the discharge of the popped corn from 011' the'hotlate.

P The object of this invention is to provide a simple and efiective adjustable measuring hopper for receiving a measured quantity of corn from the supply hopper after which the further supply will be cut ofi and the measured quantity of corn discharged into the popping machine by reason of the opening of a trap door in the bottom of the measuring hopper when it is caused'to rotate to a given position. j

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claim:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a top portion of the popcorn machine showing the hopper dispensing mechanism and hot platein perspective.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the hopper dispensing mechanism, the globular container being removed.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the dispensing mechanism. I j i Fig. 4 is a fragmental plan view of the measuring hopper and means for adjusting the same.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the opposite side of the upper part of the machine to that shown in Fig. 3 and a vertical section of a part of the hot-plate construction.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on a line 6-6 of Fig. 2. V

Fig. 7 is a fragmental cross section on line 7-7, Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a fragmental vertical section on lines 8-8 of Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 9 is a fragmental View illustrating the operation of the cams.

In the drawings there is shown a popcorn machine cabinet 10 having the usual transparent panels through which the corn-popping devices are visible. Suspended from a transparent corn and heat retaining wall 15 for permitting observation of the popcorn 26, 1924. Serial No 740,107.

during the popping process. Mounted on top or" the plate 14 there is a funnel-like member 16 communicating with the interior of the device for receiving a charge of the corn from the dispensing mechanism.

Mounted on top of the cabinet and supported thereon by the legs 1'1 there" is an annular measuring and dispensing member 18 rotatably supported between the plate 19 and the ring or band 20 which are supported by said legs 17 in spaced relation to the top of the cabinet. Mounted on said ring 20 and detachably secured thereto there is a globular corn hopper 21 for containing the supply of corn to be popped.

The ring 20 is formed with an integral bottom plate 22 which supports the corn contained in the hopper and forms the bottom thereof, said plate or bottom 22 being provided with a Vshaped opening 23 for permitting a charge of corn to pass therethrough. The dispensing member 18 is rotatable with respect to said bottom plate 22 and ring 20 and is provided with a top plate 24 which lies adjacent the plate 22. Y

Said dispensing member is provided with a pocket for receiving the charge of corn when it registers with the opening 23 in plate '22 during the rotation of said member with respect to the hopper. The pocket is formed by a fixed vertical partition wall marked 18 in Fig. 4, and the vertical wall 29 therein. The pocket has a trap door '25 which is hinged to the bottom edge of said fixed partition wall of said member 18 by the hinge 26, whereby said trap door 25 will remain closed and support the charge of corn by reason of itsresting upon the plate 19 until the rotation of said member causes the door to drop through an opening in said plate immediatel above the discharge spout 27. Said spout 1s fixedly mounted tothe plate 19 and registers with an opening in the top of the cabinet 10 communicating with the discharge chute 28. The discharge chute 28 is positioned immediately above the funnel-like member 16 so that the charge passes therethrough into said funnel and onto the hot plate.

It will, therefore. be observed that upon the rotation of the dispensing member 18 be tween the bottom plate 22 of the hopper and the plate 19, the pocket or measuring chamber formed therein will be filled'with corn upon its registering with the opening 23 in said hopper bottom plate 22. This pocket full of corn will be carried by saidmember during its continued rotation until the trap door in the bottom thereo't' drops down through the opening in the plate 19 registering with the spout 27. The measured charge of corn will accordingly pass by gravity through the chute 28 onto the popping plate. After the corn has thus been discharged from said member its continued rotation will cause the trap door 25 to engage the edge of the opening in the plate 19, wiereby it will be closed. A charge of corn of the volume determined by the size of the pocket will accordingly be discharged onto the popping plate during each revolution of said member.

In order thatthe charge of corn may be varied in quantity. the dispensing member is provided with a sliding partition 29 mounted in said member 18 and forming one wall of the pocket, said partition being provided with the guide screw 30 and the adjusting screw 31extending through a suitable slot 130 inthe wall of said member and provided with a closing'strip 32 for closing said slot and preventing corn from falling therethrough. By means of the sliding partition the pocket 25 may be readily. varied in capacity for holdinga given quantity of corn. Detachably'secured to the hopper bottom plate 22 there are spring metal wiper plates 33 and 34 for preventingthe corn resting on the top plate 24L of the dispensing member frombecoming wedged between said top plate and the plate 22,the edges of the wiper plates 33 and 34 yieldingly engaging with said top plate 2 1 ofthe dispensing member. vThe screws 35 are providedabout the ring 20101 removablysecuring the hopper 21 inposition thereon. Y

The actuating mechanism comprises the motor36 supported on the top of the casing 10 and positioned to drive the pulley 37 through the belt 38. The pulley37 is mounted on a shatt-39 supported on a bearing bracket 40 and has keyedt-hereto the worm gear 41. Said worm gear is adapted to'mesh with and drive the gear 12, which gear. is provided with the pins4e3 adaptedto engage and-rotate the starwheellah Both said gearand said star wheel are horizontally and rotatably mounted on the bearing support 40, and the pins43- are so positioned-thatthe star wheel will receive one movementon everylhalf revolution ofthe gear. 3

The star wheel is adapted to actuate the link 45 through means of the pin and slot. connection 416, said link. being pivoted on the casing at 4:7 and having pivotally mounted on the endthereof the pawl 48. Said pawl is positioned to engage with the ratchet teeth 49 secured to and completely surrounding the dispensing member 18. A locking pawl 50-is positioned in engagement with said -ratchet teeth so asto hold the same against movement during the return movement of the pawl 48 to re-engagement with a new toot-h. It will be observed, therefore, that the motor will cause the rotation of the gear 42, which in turn will rotate the star wheel which through the medium of the pawl 18 will rotate the dispensing member.

It'will be observed also that it will take four revolutions ofthe gear 12 to cause one revolution of the star wheel and cause the dispensing member to be rotated to the extent of one tooth, whereby said member receives a very slow rotary movement.

Surrounding the periphery of the dispensing member there are provided the cam members 51 and 52, the cam member 51 e:\'- tending about the entire periphery thereof with the exception of a short distance through which the cam 52 extends. The cam 51 is spaced from the plate 19 so that the roller 53 may pass therebet-ween until the ro tation of said dispensing member and cams cause it to engage the cam member 52, whereby it will be raised above its normal posit-ion during its passage over the cam member F2 until it engages the end of the member 51 which forces it down into normal position. Thus the roller 53 during each revolution of the dispensing member; is raised during a portion otits movement.

$aid rolleris mounted on the link 54 which extends downwardly through the top of the casing andhas its lower end pivot-ally connected by a pin 58 to the lever 55. The guide link 56 is also pivoted to the link 51 and to the bearing 57 secured to the top of the casing The lever 55-is pivotally connected by a pin 154 to a depending ear 158, and has its other end pivot-ally connected to the downwardly extending rod 59 which in turnis connected with a vertically movable gate 113 in the bandor housing 13.

Upon each rotation of the dispensing member the lever 55 will be actuated through the roller and cam, which will cause the rod 59 to openandclose at timed intervals the popcorn discharge opening for permitting the popcorn to be discharged from the hot plate. It will further be noted immediately upon a closing of the discharge opening :t'rom the hot plate the trap door 25 in the dispensing member will drop down and cause a new charge of corn to be dispensed. During the following revolution of the dispensing menr, her a new charge of corn will be popped and a new measured charge of uupopped corn will be received by the pocket in the dispensing member. When the revolution is nearly completed the rod 59 will be lifted to permit the'discharge'of the popped corn, and thcrcafter closed, and the new charge permitted to pass onto the hot plate.

The invention claimed is:

Dispensing means for a corn popping machine including aframe with a stationary top plate having a receiving opening therein and a stationary bottom plate with a discharge opening therein offset from the re- 7 ceiving opening in the top plate, a cylindrical dispensing member revoluble between said top and bottom plates and With a fixed vertical partition therein and with a horizontal slot in the periphery of said cylindrical dispensing means in advance of said pocket, another vertical partition in said dispensing member free to move bodily with relation to the fixed partition to form a pocket to receive a charge of unpopped corn through the opening in the stationary top plate and, deliver the same through the opening in the bottom plate, a finger piece connected With said movable partition and extending through said slot for adjusting and securing said movable partition in adjusted position to vary the dimensions of the pocket, a strip carried by said finger piece and parallel With and adjaeent to the periphery of the dispensing member for closing the opening through which said finger piece extends, and a trap door forming the bottom of said pocket and hinged to said fixed vertical partition Which can drop down by gravity When it registers With the opening in said stationary bottom plate and permit the discharge of corn.

In Witness whereof, We have hereunto affiXed our signatures.

GEORGE H. ROSSEBO.

HOMER XVALTMAN. 

